Invisible
This post is a little different and a little more personal.
Several years ago, an inspiration struck me. Partly as a coping skill, partly as a creative outlet, partly as need to express it one way or another, I started writing poetry about my family’s life with chronic invisible illness. Some serious, some sassy, and there are a few parodies that I’d like to think are funny. I will share some of my writing here. Let’s peel the curtain on what some of our behind-the-scenes look like.
Invisible
“But they look so healthy…”
Bleeding insertions, painful injections
Grim complication from simple infections
Day-long crippling hangovers
After nights of relentless highs and lows
Nausea, headaches, tears
Exhaustion, frustration, fears
Our daily behind the scenes
Invisible, unknown, unseen
“So they just need to give insulin?…”
Complex estimations and calculations
Taking every bite into consideration
“Good” foods, “bad” foods, foods impossible to control
Doing everything right but getting everything wrong
Dose too little and pay for it dearly
Dose too much and it can be deadly
Our daily behind the scenes
Invisible, unknown, unseen
“They can live a totally normal life…”
Sleep disruptions, life interruptions
Hundreds of extra daily decisions
Cancellations, detours, disappointments
Appointment, appointment, appointments
Spontaneity frequently abandoned
Never leaving home empty-handed
Refrigerator full of medication
Bags of medical supplies on vacation
Extensive information, embarrassing questions
Requests for disability accommodations
Our daily behind the scenes
Invisible, unknown, unseen
Behind every attempt at normalcy
Behind joyful moments lived carelessly
Behind thrilling athletic accomplishments
Behind mastery, competence, confidence
Are our daily behind the scenes
Invisible, unknown, unseen